A brief history of the French Institute The French Institute of Cambodia opened in 1990 under the name Alliance Française, then Centre culturel français. As...

A brief history of the French Institute
The French Institute of Cambodia opened in 1990 under the name Alliance Française,then Centre culturel français. As an operator for the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it plays a key role in the cultural, artistic, and educational cooperation between France and Cambodia and promotes French literature, movies, and language as well as ideas and knowledge.

Cultural sharingUnder this two-fold mission of artistic and cultural cooperation and promotion, the French Institute offers a diverse cultural program which places a great importance on scientific, technical, and professional topics. It offers cultural events (exhibitions, shows, concerts, etc.), conferences, and debates all year long and also movie screenings in French with English or Khmer subtitles. The café-restaurant Le Bistrot gives the opportunity to enjoy and discover the French tableware and cooking in a friendly atmosphere in accordance with the French Institute’s motto: exchange your cultures.

Learn French
Every year, about 5000 students choose to learn French at the French Institute’s Language Center. The courses being offered are aimed to meet the training demands of various groups such as companies, young professionals, and international organizations. It can be adapted to specific needs or language skills: preparation to go in France to study, work in a French-speaking company, work with French clients, or improve one’s French language skills.

La Médiathèque: the Media LibraryThe Media Library essentially provides a window to modern France. It offers more than 25,000 multimedia documents (books, DVDs, and ebooks). The digital library “Culturethèque” provides Media Library members a new opportunity to access the best French media online on their computers, tablets, or smartphones.

Along with the main representation of the French Institute in Phnom Penh, another annex share the same goals and objectives in Battambang.

A few key dates

October 1990: opening of the Alliance française

April 1992: the Alliance française becomes the Centre culturel français(CCF)

September 1994: opening of the annex in Battambang

September 1996: opening of the annex in Siem Reap

January 2011: the Centre culturel français of Cambodia becomes the French Institute

2012: renovation of the French Institute

March 2014: inauguration of the new garden and the Bistrot of the French Institute